New Librarian To Adminstrate Revamped Library System

Ed Kieczykowski, who checked out of San Bernardino County after 17 years on the books – he retired with the title of County Librarian – is ready for a new chapter in his career. Kieczykowski will take the helm of the Santa Clarita Public Library System when it opens for business Friday morning.

Kieczykowski will be the first to hold the title in Santa Clarita’s history, and as the administrator for the new system, Kieczykowski will be in charge of hiring and directing staff, coordinating city programs with library programs, and heading up the development of the library’s programs and collection.

Kieczykowski said he is looking forward to his transition from an established county library system to begin work growing and developing the new Santa Clarita Public Library from what the county had in place.

“It seemed like a good time to switch course and go from a county system to helping set up a new city library system,” Kieczykowski said. “We will be taking an existing system that had been a pretty good one and seeing what we can do about improving it.”

In regards to the direction of the new system, Kieczykowski mentioned improving library technology and ensuring the success of the future plans of the city’s library system.

“Our goals involve the development of technology, which we think is important, purchasing new computers, increasing internet bandwidth and working to add more technology to libraries out here,” Kieczykowski said. “We also plan on working to get the new library in Old Town Newhall open to the public next year.”

Given the vast resources Kieczykowski will be able to work with, as well as the opportunity he will have to build upon this new infrastructure, Kieczykowski said he is eager to see how the process unfolds.

“I’m excited. The city has put a tremendous amount of resources in the library system. They have spent $900,000 on new materials and are adding new services and programs. I like the idea of integrating library philosophy with city philosophy. I look forward to the challenges of getting a new a system up and running and putting the pieces in place.”

Under Kieczykowski’s leadership the city libraries will begin reopening on July 1, with the Canyon Country library opening its doors at 10 a.m. and the Newhall library opening at 2 p.m. Valencia’s library will complete the process with a 10 a.m. opening on July 5.

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